This congress calls on the leaders and peoples of the states formerly known as Yugoslavia to cease their active hostilities and seek to resolve their religious and nationalistic differences through peaceful political means.
Cultural and ethnic diversity is a source of strength within society when differences are mediated by political processes. Such diversity and process are characteristic of the European democratic state. Alternative means of resolving conflict are unworkable, unacceptable, and impoverishing to the richness of society.
Realising the need to prevent conflict we support the decision in July 1992 by the summit meeting of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) to appoint a High Commissioner on National Minorities. We urge this appointment is made quickly and adequate resources made available to enable the duties of the High Commissioner to be carried out effectively.
We also draw attention to the fact that the armed conflict could probably have been prevented had the UNO implemented the articles of its charter which provide for permanent UN stand-by forces (1) (as distinct from the improvised “peace-keeping” forces”) and their control by the UN Military Staff Committee (2), as recommended in the Palme Report on international security. (3) these proposals have been further developed in the resolution passed by one of the working parties of the IHEU Peace Conference in Zutphen.
We thus urge the UNO to ensure the effective implementation of these articles (if necessary in a modified form), to enforce international law impartially and prevent international or ethnic tension from leading to armed conflict.
IHEU congress 1992
'Balkan conflict and national minorities (1992)', Humanists International, World Humanist Congress, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1992